Tinubu’s nomination of ex-INEC chair as ambassador embarrassing, insensitive – ADC

The African Democratic Congress has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as an ambassador, describing the move as “embarrassingly insensitive.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, the ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the appointment was particularly troubling, coming less than two years after Yakubu oversaw what he called a “highly controversial election” that brought Tinubu to power, and only weeks after his exit as INEC Chairman.

Abdullahi argued that such an appointment further erodes public trust in the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions.

According to him, the nomination reinforces concerns that top electoral officials may feel incentivised to act in ways favourable to ruling parties in hopes of securing political rewards after their tenure.

“This particular appointment of Prof. Yakubu blurs what should be a distinct line between players and umpires.

“If allowed to stand, it would set a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen and commissioners may begin to see their positions as stepping stones to future political rewards.

“Once that mindset enters the bloodstream of our electoral system, neutrality becomes impossible, partisanship becomes inevitable, and elections become transactional,” he said.

Abdullahi added, “A cursory review of the list would show that almost all the nominees fall into three categories: former career diplomats or ambassadors, political supporters or their relatives, and members of the president’s political party.

“We wonder in which of these three categories Prof. Yakubu belongs. The implication of this is deeply unsettling indeed.”

He said the development raises “serious ethical questions” and called on Nigerians, civil society groups and democratic institutions to reject actions that undermine electoral credibility.

He urged Yakubu to reject his nomination in the interest of national trust and democratic integrity.

“We therefore call on Prof. Yakubu to do the patriotic thing and reject this appointment for the sake of INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and the preservation of his own legacy.

“Failing to do so, we call on the Senate to reject his nomination in the interest of our democracy,” the statement added.

Yakubu is part of a batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees sent by Tinubu to the Senate on Saturday.

The list includes a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among others.

The presidency said the nominees are being considered for career and non-career ambassadorial posts, with confirmed nominees to receive their diplomatic postings after Senate approval.

An academic, Yakub served as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025.

He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 October 2015.

His legacy includes the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for voter verification and the Results Viewing Portal to allow instant public access to polling unit results.

He institutionalised a system of continuous registration and updates of voter records, breaking away from only registering citizens ahead of elections.